Hi Bristol Birders: Joan and I made our first trip to the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge on Friday, January 30. Arriving about an hour before dusk, we were treated to a grand show, only rivaled in my experience by a large kettle of Broad-winged hawks on Clinch Mountain in September. The sky was literally filled with cranes, and all of them seemed to be calling at once--a rattling GAR-OO-OO, which, as it reverberated across the surrounding water and fields, added a special, somewhat haunting, dimension to the experience. Awesome! The next morning we arrived around 10:00 a.m., and there were even more cranes than before, most standing around in the shallow water or surrounding fields. It was a bitter cold morning, which may have delayed their departure for their feeding grounds. According to the TWRA, approximately 10,000 birds winter there, but the numbers may be as high as 25,000 to 30,000 during migration. I certainly couldn't argue with these numbers. The best times of day to see the birds are at dawn and dusk. Bring along warm clothing and hot drinks, it can get mighty cold at the viewing area. We didn't see Whooping Cranes, but did spot a mature American Bald Eagle. There were lots of ducks, Great-blue Herons; and thousands of crows, the latter apparently lured by corn planted in the nearby fields for the cranes. If you haven't taken in this birding experience, please take the time to do so at least once in your lifetime. The viewing area is easy to find. Take Exit 27, I-75 S (Cleveland, TN). Turn right and following the four lane road until it intersects with TN Rte 60. Turn right on 60 and follow until you come to Birchwood School. After the school, stay on 60 just a mile or so more until you see a sign on the right for the Hiwassee Refuge. Follow the signs to the viewing area. For more information, call the Meigs County Tourism office at 423-334-5850, or visit www.southeasttennessee.com. May all your birds be wild ones. Ron Harrington Bristol, VA ************************************************* BRISTOL BIRDS NET LIST This is a regional birding list sponsored by the Bristol Bird Club to facilitate communications between birders and bird clubs of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. It serves the Russell County Bird Club, Herndon TOS Chapter, Blue Ridge Birders Club, Butternut Nature Club, Buchanan County Bird Club, Bristol Bird Club, Clinch Valley Bird Club and Cumberland Nature Club. -------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to Bristol-Birds. To post to this mailing list, simply send an email to: bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send an email to bristol-birds-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the one word 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. -------------------------------------------------- Wallace Coffey, Moderator wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (423)764-****